Puppies 101: How to Get Your New Friend Off to a Happy, Healthy Start

Puppies do well when there’s been some advanced planning. photo: AdobeStock

Do you have a new puppy or are you thinking about getting one? Inviting a small, furry family member into your home can be exciting and rewarding. Puppies are like little sponges, ready to soak up all the information you provide for them. They are also a lot of work! Here are some basics to get you both started on the right foot.

The best time to prepare for your new puppy is before you bring them home. You’ll want to purchase necessary gear, create a safe environment, and explore ways to provide socialization and training experiences that will set them up for success. You’ll also want to research the breed or breed mix you’ll be bringing home so you can better understand their needs before they arrive.

All puppies need a safe, secure spot to relax and play during the day. An X-pen, available in a number of sizes and configurations, is a great way to create a safe area for your new arrival. This is where you should put your puppy anytime you aren’t able to actively supervise them. It will help ensure they don’t begin to develop bad habits while you work on establishing new routines with them.

Place your puppy’s crate in one corner of the pen and place their food and water in another. If you won’t always be able to take your puppy outside for frequent potty breaks, set up a temporary indoor potty area in the pen. Place several potty pads on the opposite side of the pen away from the crate so your new puppy has a large potty area, ensuring they are less likely to make a mistake.

Provide food puzzles and other enrichment toys both in and out of the playpen. Teaching your puppy to enjoy mouthing their toys means you’ll have better success managing your puppy's desire to chew on other things (your favorite shoes!) as they get older. To reinforce this, always redirect your puppy's mouth to a toy when they want to play with you. This will teach them to use their mouth on their toy rather than your hands (did we mention those puppy teeth are like needles?). Playing tug with your puppy is a great way to provide exercise and mental stimulation while teaching your puppy where to put their mouth when excited and playful.

Start your puppy with a consistent potty training schedule. Most puppies should be given the chance to eliminate every couple of hours (eventually you will learn their routine and you can tweak the schedule to meet their needs). Take your puppy to the spot where you’d like them to go and simply wait (some puppies will need to be taken out on a leash depending on your environment). Watch for signs like arching the back, sniffing, or circling, and be patient. After your puppy goes to the bathroom in the correct spot, offer them a few food treats to celebrate this new habit. Anytime you can’t actively monitor your puppy when indoors, put them back in their safe spot to ensure they don’t get in the habit of eliminating indoors or anywhere else you don’t want them to go.

Begin to teach your puppy about home alone time right away. Don’t wait until you’ve had your puppy for a few weeks to begin this very important training. On day one, begin to go out of sight or leave the room for brief periods to get your puppy acclimated to being left alone right from the start. If your puppy is doing well, gradually increase the time as they show you they are comfortable. Leaving your puppy with things to do while in their pen will help keep them occupied.

Practice safe exposure and socialization. The socialization window for dogs is roughly between 3-16 weeks of age, and exposure to social interactions and the world in general is critical during this time. Go at your puppy’s own pace so you don’t overwhelm or scare them. For some puppies, this might look like sitting outside and watching things go by at a distance. Others may be more naturally gregarious. Pay attention to your puppy’s body language for any signs of fear or frustration. 

To acclimate your pup to other people, offer treats when they see people passing or coming near. Invite friends to your house so your puppy gets experience with strangers entering your home. Have trusted friends and neighbors offer your puppy some food or play with them. Of course, you should be selective about who gets to greet your new puppy to avoid negative experiences. 

Most people think about introducing their puppy to other people and dogs, but don’t forget about novel environments and objects: textures, large animals, sounds, body handling and grooming, cars and vehicles, water, stairs, or anything else they’re likely to encounter. Feeding your puppy small treats when they hear, see, or smell something novel is a great way to encourage this kind of socialization. 

Always keep in mind that your goal is to create a socially skilled dog. Puppy socials where puppy play time is allowed to continue for long periods without breaks isn’t actually beneficial as it can create a dog who is magnetized to other dogs as play toys, which is likely to create behavior problems down the road. Playing well with other dogs is just one aspect of being socially skilled.  Being able to ignore another dog or pass one on the sidewalk without a fuss is also a necessary social skill. Ensure your puppy is learning both skills.

In fact, a structured training plan with personalized coaching is often the best way to get started with your new puppy. The goal of training is to teach you how to be an effective teacher for your own pup. Look for a trainer who uses evidence-based practices and promotes positive reinforcement. Remember, there is no substitute for regular practice. Training works best if you make it fun for both dogs and people.

Finally, don’t forget to enjoy your time with your puppy while you can. Dogs generally reach adolescence at five to six months of age so your young puppy will be a budding teenager before you know it. As any parent knows, adolescence comes with its own set of challenges and joys. But, if you put in the work now to set your puppy up for success, you’ll be well equipped to handle all the fun that comes next.